AIFFs green light to PLS

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi: The cash-rich Premier League Soccer (PLS), on Monday, received the go ahead signal from All India Football Federation (AIFF). The green light came after the Indian Football Association (IFA) assured the parent body to abide by the Fifa rules and regulations.

The decision was taken by the emergency committee of the federation, which met under the chairmanship of its president Praful Patel.

The change of mind by the AIFF has certainly come as a huge relief for the tournament organisers, who are planning to field famous names like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernan Crespo, Robbie Fowler, Jay-Jay Okocha and Juan Pablo Sorin.

However, the tournament, involving six districts teams of Bengal, ran into deep trouble after AIFF questioned the authenticity of the registered teams and advised Fifa to temporarily suspend them from Transfer Matching System (TMS), which allows a club to recruit foreign players.

AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told The Telegraph: The problems have been solved. IFA has agreed to register the clubs as per the rules. It would also direct the six franchisee sides to provide bank guarantee for the unpaid amount assured to the foreign player contracted to play the PLS.

Stressing on the point that AIFF had no destructive endeavour and all it wanted to ensure was good governance, Das said IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli would be in the capital on Tuesday with all the necessary documents.

Once we receive the papers, the suspension on TMS access of the six PLS club would be revoked, said Das. Both Das and Ganguli, it was learnt, were in constant touch for the past few days while trying to find a solution.